Conveyor and unloading apparatus



Aug. 26, 1947. R. T. ADAMS Er AL i GONVEYOR AND UNLOADING APPARATUS Filled Jan. -11, 1945 5 Sheets-Sheet l l l l I I l IIE/ III\ 5 Sheets-Shet 2 R. T. ADAMS ET AL CONVEYOR yAND UNLOADING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 11, 1945 Aug. 26, 1947..

CONVEYOR AND UNLOADING APPARTUS Patented Aug. 26, 1947 Robert T. Adams, Baltimore, Md., and Julius A.

Wagner, Cleveland Heights, Ohio, assignors to Western Electric Company, Incorporated, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application January 11, 1945, Serial No. 572,416

9 Claims. (C1. 198 185) This invention relates to a conveyor and an i unloading apparatus therefor, and more particularly to a conveyor for conveying cords during the processing thereof and to a mechanism for unloading processed cords from the conveyor.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a simple and efhcient mechanism for handling iiexible articles.

In accordance with one embodiment of the invention, a conveyor is provided for receiving cordage, upon which operations are to be performed, where lengths of cordage are coiled in pans carried by the conveyor with a looped portion of the cordage extending between the pans on the conveyor in position to have operations performed upon them. The conveyor carries the cordage in the pans with a length of cordage hanging therefrom to an unloading device comprising Ycooperating belts driven at high speed in parallel relation one to another in position to receive a severed length of the cordage and withdraw the coil of cordage rapidly from the pan and direct the severed length of cordage to a container.

A complete understanding of the invention may be had by reference tothe following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein Fig. 1 is a fragmentary plan view of a cord processing machine having a conveyor traveling around it to properly position cords which are to be operated upon by the processing machine and showing the unloading device adjacent the processing machine;

Fig. [2 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially along the line 2 2 of Fig. 1 in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary plan sectional view taken substantially along the line 3 3 of Fig. 2 in the direction of the arrows and showing details of construction of the unloading apparatus;

Fig. 4 is a transverse vertical sectional View taken through a portion of the processing machine and the conveyor taken substantially along the line 4 4 of Fig. 1 in the direction of the arrows; and

Fig. 5 is a transverse vertical sectional view through the unloading portion of the apparatus taken substantially along the line 5 5 of Fig. 1 in the direction of the arrows.

Referring to the drawing, wherein like reference numerals designate the same parts throughout the several views, particular reference being had to Figs. 1 and 4, it will be seen that the conveyor system is adapted tocooperate with a cord processing machine IU of the type disclosed in detail in the co-pending application of R'. `T. Adams and J. A. Wagner, Serial No.n572,414, filed January 11, 1945, and adapted to be supplied with cordage by an apparatus such as that disclosed in the co-pending application of J A. Wagner, Serial No. 572,417,led-.January 11, 1945.V The portion of the cord processing machine ID as disclosed'herein,comprises a turret II rotatable abouta center postor bearing post I2 and carrying a plurality of plates I3 in i' a' circular path to a number of processing tools (not shown). `The turret II which rotates aboutthe bearing post I2 carries a framework I4 iwhich serves to support the plate I3 and the turrethas a sprocket ring I5 suitably attached to it-forsup porting and driving a link chain I6. The linkV chain I6 comprises the driving and supporting element of a conveyor which extends to the right of .Fig 1 to a suitable end support (notY shown), and is then directed back to` a guide sprocket I'I'Which will cause it to mesh withthel sprocket ring I5 and bedriven thereby.` AThe sprocket Il is mounted on a suitable bracket I8 and is positioned to direct the chain I6 into engagement with the sprocket ring I5 so' that throughout most of the circumference of theA turret II, the chain `Iii will Yencircle and-engage the sprocket ring I5. Mounted at spaced intervals on the chain I6 are a plurality of pans I9.

The pans I9 are fixed to plates 20 which are in turn mounted upon brackets 2l `suitably -xed to alternate links of the chain` I6.

curling a sheared out portion of side Walls 24 24 upon themselves at the ends of the front wall. The side walls 24 24 are cut away as shown at 25 to facilitate withdrawal of lcordage 2E which has been coiled in the pan andthe side walls 24 have portions thereof, bent to vjoin with a rear wall 21. Y

The cord processing machine isprovided'with` an annular framefork 35 which enclosesl the outer ends of the plates I3.` This framework is stationary and has Xed to it a support bracket 36V (Figs. 4 and 5) on which there are mounted a` pair of irregularly shaped castings 31 and38.

The castings 3l and 38 extend parallel one vtoan-` other and'each carries a plurality of rollers 39 along the edge of it adjacent to the other' casting. 'I'hese rollers 39 are freely rotatable on stud shafts 40 threadedinto castings 3l andi38. The

castings 31 and 38 are provided with central Vertically extending flanges 4Ifand 4`2 which serve` Each of the pans I9 is provided with a front wall 22` which terminates in a rounded abutment 23 formed byi 3 to support covers 43 and 44 for enclosing the rollers 39 and double pulleys 45, 46, 41 and 48. The pulleys 45 and 46 are freely rotatable upon stud shafts 49 and 58 fixed to the castings 31 and 38, respectively, whereas the pulleys 41 and 48 arefixed to stud shafts 5| and 52 journalled in the castingsvv 31 and 38. Thestud shafts 5I and 52 carry gears 53 and 54 in meshwith oppositely formed worm gears 55 and 56, respectively, which serve to drive the gears 53 and 5'4" and through the stud shafts I and 52'y and to impart rotation to the pulleys 41 and 48. The Worm gears 55 and 56 are mounted upon a drive suitable driving means (not shown) to rotate the shaft 58 at a relatively high rateof speed to.

drive belts 6|, 62, 63 and 64. The belts 6l and 62 are positioned in the grooves of the double pulley 4'1 and the double pulley 45 whereas the beltsAv 631 andi 64l are mounted in the grooves of double pulleys and 46 and the belts' will? bev held-closel`y adjacentone another on their innercourse by the rollers-39 in` sucha manner thatl a.v ll-fngth-- of'v cordage severed; from aA continuous lengththereofinthe cord'fprocessing machine I 0f and guided to position between the belts by a guidi;l member 65 will-belwith'drawnfrom thepan l-'g'and transferred rapidly t'o-a container 66 po'- sitioned adjacent to the end of the'courses off the belts;

rIl'ie guide member 65is-formed integrally with the ycover uandfextends-from'the point where the cover terminates` t`o= expose the inner course of belts163iandf 64' to a point where it engages a guardmember 61.' Thezguardmemberl 61 isattachedl to the'cover 6I' asshown inY Figs. 4i and 5 and? is reinforced? and supported by cooperating bars 68 and 68 attached to theannular frame- Work 35", beingL broken away as shown at 10- inV ofthebelts 6i and' 62 and the top edges of the covers` arebent' downslightly to position closely adjacent? the`- belts; A't the right ends: of' the covers 4k3and 4'4' (Fig. 3) guidemembers 15|. and 12?, respectively, are fXe'dto the covers and extend into-close proximity to the belts# tor` prevent a-cordfiom sticking to one of' the belts andI be*- ing entangled iii-the unloading apparat-us;

Inithe' operationof-'the apparatus-the platesv` i3'- travel around? the" turret ofvv the cordage processing macliineiat al relatively low rate of speed and; asV clearly. described inthe co-pending applica` tion; double endedcords-are formed'. After the cords havethus ibeen formed, they may be conveyed out of the processing machine andA to a container. 66` for receiving ai supply: of themV by themeclianismrdescribed herein. I'nA the processing'machine' Igthe cordage 2.6 is cuti into lengt-hs and terminals. are attached to the ends of the lengths.. As a. plate I3: having a= cord loosely connected thereto', .passes-:under the left endA (Fig. 1f), of-tthe castingsh 371.` andi 3B', the guide member.- 65? will; guidef az freev en'd. of the cordage into positiom between'. adjacent courses off the belts.r 61', 62;. 63. and` 64" and' since the: belts. are traveling ati` a high: ratev or speed, the. cordage willi begrippe'd; between the: belts and dragged: rapidly out'oth'e pan: I3 and snappedinto the-.container 66 as the severed length of cordage leaves the belts at the point where they diverge.

What is claimed is:

l. An unloading device for a processing machine handling lengths of flexible material comprising a pair of belts having adjacent courses traveling in'y thevr same direction and' in diverging paths, stationary'means for guiding an end portion only oi a length of ilexible material into position to be gripped by said belts, and a container adjacent to the diverging paths of said belts for receiving the lengths of flexible material unloaded from thev processing machine.

2i A* cord conveyor and unloader comprising a linkchain, meansfor driving said chain, pans on said chain for receiving coiled lengths of cordage andcarryingeach length with an end portion extending from the pan, and a pair of belts driven at a high speed relative to the speed of the drive means for the chain and positioned relative to the link chainv to engagev the end portions of said lengths of cordage for withdrawing lengths of cordage from the pans.

3. 'Ilhe combination of aconveyor carrying coiled.E lengthsA of flexible material' with an end ofi thel'ength of-materialextending from-the conveyor in a predetermined-path with an'. unloading device for the conveyor comprising means positioned' adjacent to the path of said end for engaging'andgr-ipping said end; and'means for driving: said engaging:` means and' gripping means to pull.' ai lengthA oi materiallfrom the conveyor.

4". A`l combination of' a cord conveyor carrying coiledcordswith an endofia cord extending from the conveyor i'na predetermined path with' an unloading device comprising cooperating driven members-positioned adjacent' to the path of said end for engaging and gripping said end'v between them, and means for driving said" engaging and gripping means at'highspeed'relative to the speed of-'saidlconveyor topull a cord'f'rom't'he'conveyor.

5s The combinationwith a conveyor for lengths of'jflexiblev material withl anien'd' ofeach length of material extending from the conveyor of anunloadingY device comprising a. support bracket, a

pair. ofi sets of! pulleys-on saidfbracket, an endless belt engagin'geach setofpuileys; saidbelts having adjacent courses'positioned' relative to said conveyor to engageand grip the endsof said flexible material', means for driving a pulley in each set toadvancetheadjacent courses` of the beltsin the same direction, and means for guiding'theend of av length of material` on the conveyor to position between the adjacent coursesof the belts.

6l The combinationwith a conveyor for lengths of flexible materialwithan end of each length of material extending fronrthe conveyor of an unloadingI device' comprising al support bracket, afpair ofsets of pulleys on said bracket, an endless belt engaging'ea'ch set of! pulleys, saidbelts having adjacent courses positioned relative to said conveyor to engage and grip the-endsof said lengths of` fieXible-.materi'aL means ford'riving the con- Veyor at ar predetermined speed; means for driving a pulleyin eachset of pulleys atI a rate of speed faster than the speed of the conveyor', and' means for'guiding'the end of a lengthlof'rnaterial on. the conveyor to position between the ad'- J'acent courses-of the belts.

'7. A cord unloading' apparatus-comprising two sets ofi beltseach set comprising a plurality of belts; pulleys for drivin'gsaidbelts and for positioning the belts in eachA set in spacedE relation axially withirespect to eachother, means for supporting; said. pulleys: inposition to support'the belts with adjoining courses of the'belts traveling in the same direction, stationary means for guiding an end portion only of a cord-to position between said courses, and means cooperating with said guiding means to enclose substantially all of the belts and pulleys except the adjacent courses of the belts.

8. A cord unloading apparatus comprising two sets of belts with a plurality of belts in each set, pulleys for driving said belts and for positioning the belts in each set in spaced relation axially with respect to each other, means for supporting said pulleys in position to support the belts 'with adjoining courses of the belts traveling in the saine direction, stationary means for guiding an end portion only of a cord to position between said courses, and a container positioned adjacent to the point Where the adjoining courses of the belts diverge for receiving cords pulley off by the belts.

9. A cord unloading apparatus comprising two sets of belts with a plurality of belts in each set, pulleys for driving said belts and for positioning the belts in each set in spaced relation axially with respect to each other, means for supporting said pulleys in position to support the belts with adjoining courses of the belts traveling in the same direction, stationary means for guiding an end portion only of a cord to position between said courses, a container positioned adjacent to the point where the adjoining courses of the belts diverge for receiving cords pulled 01T by the belts, and guide means for disengaging the cords from the belts adjacent the container.

ROBERT T. ADAMS.

JULIUS A. WAGNER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

